Ignite Restaurant Group Names Michael J. Dixon New Chief Financial Officer
Business Wire
HOUSTON -- November 28, 2012
Ignite Restaurant Group (NASDAQ: IRG) today announced that Michael J. Dixon
has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective
January 2, 2013. Mr. Dixon will succeed Jeffery L. Rager, who has resigned
from Ignite Restaurant Group to pursue other opportunities.
“We are very pleased to add Michael to the Ignite team during an exciting
period of growth for our Company,” said Raymond A. Blanchette, III, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Ignite Restaurant Group. “Michael’s broad and
extensive experience in senior public company finance roles, his public
accounting experience, his business development acumen and deep restaurant
expertise make him an invaluable asset to our leadership team.”
Mr. Blanchette added, “We would also like to thank Jeff for his many
contributions to Ignite, in particular his commitment to seeing the company
through the IPO process. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Mr. Dixon brings over 25 years of corporate finance leadership and public
accounting experience to Ignite, including more than 12 years in the food
service industry. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer for Pinkberry, a leader in the premium frozen yogurt
category with 220 outlets. Prior to his role at Pinkberry, Mr. Dixon served as
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at The Cheesecake Factory,
Inc., from 2004 to 2008, as well as Controller from 2000 to 2004. In 2000, Mr.
Dixon was Vice President and Controller of Petsmart.com, and prior to that, he
served as Director, Finance and Business Development at The Walt Disney
Company from 1994 to 2000. Before joining The Walt Disney Company, Mr. Dixon
spent nine years at Coopers & Lybrand, a predecessor firm to
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Mr.Dixon also served recently as a member of the board of directors of
Brinker International, the owner, operator and franchisor of the Chili’s Grill
& Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant brands.
Mr. Dixon holds a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in
business administration from the University of Michigan.
About Ignite Restaurant Group
Ignite Restaurant Group,Inc. owns and operates two restaurant brands, Joe's
Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap. Each brand offers a variety of
high-quality, chef-inspired food and beverages in a distinctive, casual,
high-energy atmosphere. Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap operate
in a diverse set of markets across the United States.
Contact:
ICR
Investor Relations
Fitzhugh Taylor, 203-682-8261
fitzhugh.taylor@icrinc.com
or
Media Relations
Liz Brady DiTrapano, 646-277-1226
liz.brady@icrinc.com